STORAGE POLYSACCHARIDE IN COCCIDIAL SPOROZITES AFTER EXCYSTATION AND PENETRATION OF CELLS

SYNOPSIS. Eimeria acervulina, E. necatrix, and E. meleagrimitis sporozoites were examined for carbohydrates by cytochemical methods during dormancy, after excystation, and after penetration of cells. The only carbohydrate found was amylopectin, a homogeneous polymer of glucose. It was distributed in 3 regions: (a) in front of the anterior refractile globule, (b) around the nucleus, and (c) behind the posterior refractile globule. The relative amounts decreased after excystation and penetration of cells until only small amounts remained around the nucleus. The quantity of amylopectin decreased following excystation from 30.0‐36.7 to 9.4‐13.3 μg glucose/106 oocysts. Over a 6 yr period of storage at 4 C, there was a decrease in the quantity of amylopectin in dormant sporozoites of E. acervulina from 33.3 μg glucose/106 oocysts at 3 mos to 1.5 μg at 6 years. Coincidentally, 3 month‐ and 1 year‐old oocysts of E. acervulina produced patent infections in chicks with a dosage of 5 × 104 oocysts, but only a few of the oocysts that had been stored for 2 years were infective; a dosage of 2 × 106 oocysts was necessary to produce a patent infection. Oocysts which had been stored 6 years did not produce a patent infection. It was concluded that amylopectin is the energy source for excystation and subsequent penetration of cells. Small amounts of amylopectin are used during dormancy and, when the content in the sporozoite falls below a certain level, the sporozoites lack sufficient energy to infect cells. Copyright © 1969, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved